Coal feeding system for mechanical feed-type larry car

ABSTRACT

In conjunction with a mechanical turntable feed-type larry car, apparatus for keeping the charging hole of a coke oven chamber sealed while charging coal includes telescoping tubes, one of which coacts with the charging hole periphery, and a pivotable shoe that rides on coal on the turntable. When coal is being charged, the shoe, acting through suitable control apparatus, keeps a damper valve open. But, when insufficient quantity of coal is on the turntable, the shoe closes the damper valve.

llnitenl States atent References Cited [72] Inventor Linwood G.Tucker E. Williams [54] COAL FEEDING SYSTEM FOR MECHANICAL FEED-TYPE LARRY CAR In conjunction with a mechanical turntable feed-type larry car, apparatus for keeping the charging hole of oven chamber sealed while charging coal includes telescoping tubes, one of which coacts with the charging hole periphery, and a pivotable shoe that rides on coal on the turntable. When coal is being charged, the shoe, acting through suitable control apparatus, keeps a damper valve open. But, when insufficient quantity of coal is on the tumtable, the shoe closes the damper valve.

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r m m D m mm S m "s m L L m C mm COAL FEEDING SYSTEM FOR MECHANICAL IFIEIED- TYPE LARRY CAR BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION When coal is being charged into a coke oven chamber, large quantities of gases evolve which have, heretofore, been vented to atmosphere. Nowadays, however, antipollution regulations require that the gases be cleaned before they are released to the atmosphere and much effort has been, and is presently being, directed toward the development of a so-called smokeless charging system for a coke oven battery. So far, a system that is designed for use with gravity feed type larry cars would not always be suitable for use with mechanical or turntable feed type larry cars.

The present invention is directed to a sealed coal-feeding system for use with a mechanical, turntable type larry car.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Apparatus for controlling the flow of gas into and from a coke oven chamber before and after charging with coal includes a fixed conduit mounted to the larry car and adapted for receiving coal when discharged by a turntable. A flow control valve is mounted in the fixed conduit and is opened and closed in response to a pivotable shoe that engages the coal being discharged from the turntable. A movable coal conduit telescopes with the fixed conduit and seals with the coke oven coal-charging hole.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a schematic elevational sectional view of a sealed coal-feeding system for a coke oven in accordance with the invention; 1

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a detail of the structure of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a sectional view along line III--III of FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION FIG. 1 illustrates the lower portion of a mechanical-feed type larry car coal hopper 11 that is provided with a conventional internal cutoff gate 13, a rotatable turntable 15 and afixed coal conduit 17 that is provided with a cleanout cover or lid 19.

The fixed coal conduit 17 cooperates with a telescoping coal conduit 21 that is vertically reciprocable into and out of engagement, at its lower specially shaped end 23, with the periphery ofa coal charging hole 25 ofa coke oven battery 27. The telescoping coal conduit 21 is actuated by a cylinderpiston assembly 29 that is mounted suitably to the fixed coal conduit 17 and that is connected, as at 31, to the telescoping coal conduit 21.

Within the fixed coal conduit 17 there is a flow-regulating device 33, which may be the butterfly type of valve shown, or any other suitable device. The control device 33 is actuated by mechanism 35 that acts in response to a signal from a sledtype pivotable shoe 37 located within the coal hopper 11 and above the turntable 15.

The telescoping coal conduit 21 is provided with a sealing device 39 comprised of wedge-sealing ring 41 and two superimposed layers of tangential segmental rings 43, 45. The wedge sealing 41 has an arcuate convex surface 47 that is, preferably, spherical in shape so that it coacts with a conical surface portion 49 of the flared upper end portion SI of the telescoping coal conduit 21.

The flared upper end portion 51 is provided with a plurality of studs 53 that cooperate with an annular retainer ring 55 coacting with the tangential segmental rings 43, 45 to hold them in position; the retainer ring 55 coacting with springs 57 and nuts 59 on the studs 53.

Each segmental ring 43, 45 is comprised of a plurality of segments, such as 45a, 45b shown in FIG. 3, and adjacent segments 45a, 45b abut along a surface 61 that is generally biased toward the inner periphery of the segments 45a, 45b. The surface 61 merges with a notch 63 which is provided in each segment 45a, 45b to allow for freedom of movement as the segments 45a, 45b wear in service.

Each of the segments 45a and 45b has a hole 65 therein that receives a dowel pin 67 secured as by threading into the segment 43a, 4312 located below the segments 45a, 45b.

The tangential segmental rings 43, 45 each have a groove in their outer peripheral surface in which a conventional gartertype spring 69 is cooperative to hold the several segments 45a, 45b, etc., and 43a, 43b, etc., against the outer surface of the fixed coal conduit 117.

In operation, the charging hole is prepared in the usual way, by removing the lid, and the telescoping coal conduit 21 is lowered so that the shaped lower end 23 flts cooperatively into the charging hole as shown. Initially, the butterfly valve 33 is in the closed position (in FIG. l, the valve is open) and the turntable I5 is stationary.

When it is desired to charge coal into the coke oven chamber 25, the turntable I5 is activated by a mechanism 71 of conventional characteristics located below the turntable and driven by a powered shaft 73. Coal 15 in the hopper II is slung outwardly below the gate 13 and the coal on the turntable raises the sled-type shoe 37. When the shoe raises, about its pivot 77, it activates a switch 79 that sends a signal to the mechanism 35. This mechanism 35 then rotates the butterfly valve 33 to the open position as shown.

When the coal charging is concluded and there is not sufficient coal remaining on the turntable to keep and maintain the shoe in the raised position, the shoe pivots downward. Thereupon, the switch 79 is actuated and the mechanism closes the butterfly valve.

After the butterfly valve closes, the lower telescoping coal conduit is raised by actuating the cylinder-piston and the larry car moves to the next coke oven to be charged.

From the foregoing description of one embodiment of the invention, one skilled in the art will recognize several significant features and advantages among which are:

That the mechanism seals the coke oven chamber and effectively prevents air from entering the chamber if it is under a negative pressure, or it prevents gases from escaping to atmosphere if the oven chamber is under positive pressure;

That the telescoping sleeve portion is free of any internal restrictions that might cause a blockage in the free flowing of the coal; and

That the apparatus is simple, effective, and not overly complicated or costly to install and to maintain.

Although the invention has been described herein with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the disclosure has been made as an example and that the scope of the invention is defined by what is hereinafter claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. In apparatus for charging coal from a coal hopper of a larry car into a coke oven chamber by means of a rotatable turntable, the combination with said turntable of:

a. a fixed coal conduit mounted to said larry car and adapted for receiving coal when discharged by said turntable;

b. a movable coal conduit surrounding and telescopable with a portion of said fixed coal conduit, said movable coal conduit having an end adapted to coact with and seal against said coke oven chamber;

. means for sealing the joint between said movable and said fixed coal conduit;

d. means to raise and lower said movable conduit into and out of cooperative engagement with said coke oven;

e. a coal flow control device in the fixed coal conduit for regulating the flow of coal through said coal conduit; and

f. means coacting with coal on said turntable as it rotates and discharges coal that controls said coal flow control device whereby, when sufficient coal is being discharged, said coal flow device is open and when said coal flow is not sufficient, said coal flow device closes.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein:

a. said means coacting with the coal on said turntable is a pivotable shoe; and including b. means operating in response to the movement of said shoe for opening and closing said coal flow control device.

3. The invention of claim 1 wherein:

a. said coal flow control device includes a butterfly valve pivotable in said coal conduit; and including b. means for opening and closing said butterfly valve.

4. ln apparatus for charging coal from a coal hopper of a larry car into a coke oven chamber by means of a rotatable turntable, the combination with said turntable of:

a. a coal conduit communicating with said hopper for 

1. In apparatus for charging coal from a coal hopper of a larry car into a coke oven chamber by means of a rotatable turntable, the combination with said turntable of: a. a fixed coal conduit mounted to said larry car and adapted for receiving coal when discharged by said turntable; b. a movable coal conduit surrounding and telescopable with a portion of said fixed coal conduit, said movable coal conduit having an end adapted to coact with and seal against said coke oven chamber; c. means for sealing the joint between said movable and said fixed coal conduit; d. means to raise and lower said movable conduit into and out of cooperative engagement with said coke oven; e. a coal flow control device in the fixed coal conduit for regulating the flow of coal through said coal conduit; and f. means coacting with coal on said turntable as it rotates and discharges coal that controls said coal flow control device whereby, when sufficient coal is being discharged, said coal flow device is open and when said coal flow is not sufficient, said coal flow device closes.
 2. The invention of claim 1 wherein: a. said means coacting with the coal on said turntable is a pivotable shoe; and including b. means operating in response to the movement of said shoe for opening and closing said coal flow control device.
 3. The invention of claim 1 wherein: a. said coal flow control device includes a butterfly valve pivotable in said coal conduit; and including b. means for opening and closing said butterfly valve.
 4. In apparatus for charging coal from a coal hopper of a larry car into a coke oven chamber by means of a rotatable turntable, the combination with said turntable of: a. a coal conduit communicating with said hopper for passing coal into said coke oven chamber; b. a coal flow regulating device mounted in said coal conduit; c. a pivotable shoe mounted within said coal hopper and coactive with coal on said turntable; and d. means to rotate said turntable whereby coal is discharged from said hopper into said coal conduit and thence into said coke oven chamber, said pivotable shoe being connected to said flow control device so that it remains open as long as sufficient coal is on said turntable and closes when insufficient coal is on said turntable. 